"Eliminate something superfluous from your life. Break a habit. Do something that makes you feel insecure." – Piero Ferrucci

What came to mind when you read this quote?

Is there something superfluous in your life?

A habit you need to break?

An area where you need to step into feeling insecure?

The opportunity for change and for a better life lies on the other side of questions like these.

In order to get to where we want to go we must look in the mirror and answer the hard questions.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/cy46iOwWQiE

Sorry, couldn’t resist sending this one out just because of the video….

Good message too, though.

Ain’t nothing gonna break your stide,

You gotta keep on movin’

Stick with it.

It will all work out in the end.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"You will never find time for anything. If you want the time, you must make it." – Charles Buxton

How many times have you heard someone say “I can never find the time….”?

According to Mr. Buxton, it’s because it isn’t possible.

Next time you find yourself looking to “find some time” think about making some instead.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire. – Ferdinand Foch

Can you remember a time when you were on fire about someone or something?

Did you let small things get you down or did you press forward?

Did you wake up and drearily start your day?

Did you wait for things to come to you (impatiently)?

Probably not.

You moved right past the small stuff, not even noticing because you were so focused.

You woke up on fire and started thinking immediately about your goal.

You moved toward your desire relentlessly.

If you don’t have something you are on fire about right now, seek it out. Begin looking. Make finding that something your goal for now.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Below is an excerpt from an email I received recently.

The mental image suggested conveys feelings that many would identify with.

A weary traveler, tired from carrying too much baggage for too long.

Only when we are able to put down our baggage and move forward with a better understanding of what (and whose) we really are.

We are wonderfully made.

We are made for greatness.

To hold ourselves up against any other standards is a mistake.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Psalm 139:14

I f I (JCD) were to draw a caricature of an adult experiencing a lifelong crisis of confidence, I would depict a bowed, weary traveler. Over his shoulder, I would place the end of a mile‐long chain attached to tons of garbage. Inscribed on each piece of junk would be the details of some humiliation–a failure, a rejection, an embarrassment from the past. The traveler could let go of the chain, but he is convinced that he must drag that heavy load throughout life.

If this describes your own self‐concept, realize that you can free yourself from the weight of your chain. You have judged yourself inferior based on shifting standards. In the 1920s, women asked plastic surgeons to reduce their breast size–now many women undergo surgery to do just the opposite. In King Solomon’s biblical love song, the bride asked her groom to overlook her dark, well‐tanned skin–but in our country today, she’d be the pride of the beach. Rembrandt painted overweight ladies, but now, “thin is in.”

To be content with who we are as God’s creations, we must base our self‐image on His values, not on the fickle notions of human worth.

https://youtu.be/OI6pA1uX8vU

The big idea that I took away from this is – raise your standards.

Whatever you have in your life right now is because you have allowed it be so because of the standards you have for yourself.

The way you see yourself determines how it turns out for you.

You develop habits (Tony calls them rituals) that keep you the way you believe things are.

In order for things to change you have to change the standards you set for yourself.

Struggling with your weight – set a new standard.

Struggling with physical fitness – set a new standard.

Struggling with money – set a new standard.

Pick something in your life that needs a new standard and set it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/QGJuMBdaqIw

Michael Cluney sent me this in response to the daily attitude about Maggie yesterday.

It’s another good reminder that we all have a spark.

We are all unique and have a special place in this world.

Find yours.

Make the most of it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Maggie turns 11 today.

Maggie has always had a unique spark. Full of joy and enthusiasm.

Since she was very little, her mom and I have talked about encouraging her “spark” and not letting it be extinguished.

After watching for this with Maggie over the years, I’ve realized it applies to everyone.

We all have our own unique spark.

Some of us have let someone put it out.

Or maybe we just hide it.

If this is you, consider this your wake up call. Let your light shine.

Maybe even more importantly, let’s all remember to encourage the spark in others around us.

Let’s be the kind of people who are constantly helping others realize their potential.

Make it a great day.

Jake

One of my other favorite scenes from “The Sandlot” was when the leader of the group is inviting the new kid to come play with them.

The new kid makes a series of excuses (no glove, etc.) and the leader of the group takes away all of the excuses by giving him a glove, etc.

We all need someone to come into our lives and do that for us sometimes.

We need someone to cut through all of our excuses and pull us out of our comfort zone.

Someone to show us that we don’t really have anything holding us back.

If you have someone in your life like that, be grateful.

Be that leader for someone you love.

Challenge them to break through something you have seen them make excuses about.

Take away their excuses. Leave them with no choice but to step forward.

Make it a great day.

Jake

What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

This question popped into my head recently, I added to my list of ideas for the daily attitude email and it has been haunting me ever since.

At first glance, it didn’t seem like too hard of a question to answer, but after looking at it for a couple of weeks the answers seem harder and harder to find.

Think of those moments in your life when you let fear get in the way.

What would you do if you weren’t afraid of what others might think?

What would you ask for if you weren’t afraid of being rejected?

What would you risk if you weren’t afraid of the blow to your ego?

What goal would you take on if you weren’t afraid to fail?

What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

Maybe it’s unrealistic to tackle all of these things at once and conquer all your fears by the end of the day.

Maybe just try one. Find one thing where you were letting fear hold you back and push through. Decide to take the plunge.

Make it a great day.

Jake ​